It rained and hailed last night. This means I got a cup of coffee in the morning from Rose wanting a lift to school. I have a voucher for 30% off a book. This is about as thrilling as life gets

* * "George" - Grown up and safe * *

When I was a teenager (that's back when dinosaurs ruled the earth) I listened to a lot of classic punk rock (Stranglers, Clash, Sex Pistols etc). Mind you it wasn't "classic" back then, it was fresh new rebellious teen music. I hated it when my father told me it was crap (or words to that effect).

With that in mind I've tried really hard not to do that with Nik's heavy metal. I try to understand its just his taste. But really he listens to such crap.

* * "George" - Grown up and safe * *

Its my birthday, I am now 48. Scary.

* * "Gabrielle" - Girly, confident and fun * *

Sore and tired.

* * "Gabrielle" - Girly, confident and fun * *

Okay, so a few days ago Nik asked if he could have a few (translated 4-6) friends over for a bbq. Not a huge issue, he's 15 and to be expected. So anyway, rules were laid down, guidelines set and things "organised" (as much as 15 year olds can organise).

During the week, the 4-6 friends apparently morphed out to 10-15. Okay not a good thing, much finger wagging and informing Boy of the basics of numbers. But anyhow the party has been allowed to go ahead.

Now we had to drop Karl off at his formal. We thought okay, we'll be away for about half an hour, Nik's a responsible kid and none of his friends have arrived yet. So off we toddle, with phone just in case. We drop Karl off and arrive back to see a bright light coming from the back garden. We should have known something was up right then, but we assumed they'd just lit the garden torches. Yes they had lit the torches, but also managed to drop one of said torches onto the plastic petrol can. The expect result had ensued, but thinking quickly they poured beer on the minor blaze. Then got the garden hose and managed to spread the fire to the wood pile. So by the time we got home the back was well ablaze. Fortunately the fire had not spread to the house and we had a large supply of sand on hand. Piper and I managed to get the fire out.

Now we should be really angry and spitting tacks, but all we can seem to do is laugh. They'll phone for being out of soft drink or ice cream. But setting the house on fire is apparently not an emergency. Now Boy has come in and asked if they can have the Baileys. Its going to be a long night.

* * "Gabrielle" - Girly, confident and fun * *

In the kitchen we have blackboard that people are supposed to write when something runs out so we know what's needed when we go shopping. Now its ignored more often than not, and all too frequently the kids forget to mention we're out of things like toilet paper or milk. But yesterday I went through the kitchen and made a pretty full list of what we need. I was telling Piper what we need at the shops. Now Nik was listening and kept going on that we need donuts.

So after about five minutes of this I got a little sick of it and told him to go get the shopping list. I expected full well he'd write donuts at the end of the list. No problem I can recognise his writing. What I did not expect was to see the list with "doughnuts" at the bottom and then to have him swear black and blue that that is how its spelt. Meanwhile Piper is in the bedroom sulking because nobody will hire her in her online farming game.

* * "George" - Grown up and safe * *

Okay, I know I'm probably being horribly pedantic, but am I the only one who gets annoyed by "X will start momentarily". What its going to start then stop again? The last time I looked Momentarily meant "For a moment" not "In a moment" ARGHHHHHH!!!!!!

* * "Violet" - No silly line * *

Computers and internet have got out of hand in this house. Its time to change things and puts some limits in place. Last night I had Piper in tears over something Rose did on facebook. This has gone too far. When somebody can't tear themselves away from MSN for two minutes to make a cup of tea its time to step in.

* * "Emerald" - Dealing with life * *

Think we have found a way to get Rose and Nik to learn to dance; bribery. They both want something, so if they learn to dance... (yeah maybe not the best approach, but what the heck)

* * "Nicole" - Exploring and seeing * *

Was rather disappointing, most of the social dances we've been to have been better. The band was hugely disorganised and standing on the dance floor for several minutes waiting for the next dance to start just isn't fun. Still it was not a total loss. We got out, the company was good, we danced. All in all comes out in the black.

* * "Elizabeth" - You'd never notice * *

Been a long couple of days. Piper and I have another ball to go to tomorrow, been getting in practice for it. Think we've finally got the quickstep down and can put a spin turn into the waltz. Will take the camera and try and get some pictures up.

* * "Hairy Monster" - Soft, gentle and caring * *

Last week I seem to have strained a muscle in my back. I thought it was almost healed, so I went to dance class tonight. We started to learn rock and roll dancing. Now I can barely move for the pain.

* * "Hairy Monster" - Soft, gentle and caring * *

Been a long day, these two days are the worst on my rotation, which is a pity since they also are the two that pay the best. I'm tired and grumpy and generally in a bad place.

* * "Gabrielle" - Girly, confident and fun * *

Sometimes life sucks. Its been a long crappy day at work, and I came home only to watch a fight between Piper and Rose and have both of them totally ignore me. To the point where I got so fed up I told them both to shut up. Naturally this has pretty much ruined whatever was left of the evening.

* * "Emerald" - Dealing with life * *

Well on Wednesday we got a call from Telecom. Basically since we regularly go over our bandwidth allocation (thanks to the children and their downloads) they have decided to offer us a free upgrade from 10Gb to 20Gb a month for three months. Presumably they hope at the end of the three months we'll be hooked and keep it (paying the extra). All well and good.

The next day, Telecom's local gateway fell over for about 40 hours. Way to go guys. So nobody has been able to get on the internet for about two days. The kids were all mopping round in total withdrawal, bored and unable to entertain themselves (the concept of non-electronic entertainment is apparently lost on them).

They are also all now asking "what's for dinner" (the idea of making some is equally lost it seems). So here's me up to my elbows in dead Galliformes, Allium and Oryza, with the music set to earbleading so I can ignore the world.

* * "George" - Grown up and safe * *

Another dance class tonight. We went over the foxtrot, waltz and cha cha again. Think we've got the basics of these down pat now. Then started pm rock and roll. That was surprisingly difficult. In every other kind of dance we've done; when I go forward my partner goes back and vis-versa. In rock and roll you both go back, just a hard thing to get used to.

* * "Hairy Monster" - Soft, gentle and caring * *

Sam has just come home demanding something to eat. Piper said he could have an apple, maybe a nectarine or even a banana. Sam stormed out of the room bitterly complaining that his mother was "forcing him to eat crap". 'Apparently Piper is a horrible parent for supplying them with healthy tasty fruit. Nik has also just stormed out in disgust at the idea of eating fruit instead of a pie (not that he objects to fruit, he just wants the pie too). Oh how we torment and mistreat our children.

* * "Early" - Sweet, romantic and loving * *